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Please allow me to update you on some of this week's happenings in Washington, D.C.

Senate Passes Freedom to Fish Act
This week, the Senate passed Freedom to Fish Act, legislation that protects fishing access at the tailwaters of dams along the Cumberland River by preventing the Army Corps of Engineers from moving forward with a plan to install physical barriers in several locations, including the Barkley and Wolf Creek Dams.
I was an original co-sponsor of this bill. There is a deep and long love for fishing the tailwaters of the Cumberland River and I am glad we have taken action to help protect fishing access and Kentucky's economy.
Click HERE to read more about the Freedom to Fish Act.

Sen. Paul Proposes Resolution Condemning IRS
In light of news this week that the IRS was inappropriately targeting certain groups, I proposed a resolution condemning the targeting of Tea Party groups by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and called for an investigation.
The IRS has been using taxing power as a political tool to bully these conservative groups and this type of intimidation is a major violation of our U.S. Constitution. This act of discrimination should not be tolerated and I demand a formal investigation seeking criminal charges against any individuals who authorized or were involved in targeting people of the United States based on their political views.
Yet the next day, Senate Democrats placed a hold on my resolution. This resolution is not about Republican vs. Democrat or conservative vs. liberal. It is about an arrogant and unrestrained government vs. the rule of law. The First Amendment cannot and should not be renegotiated depending on which party holds power.
Each Senator took an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution, yet Senate Democrats chose to block my resolution and thus refused to condemn the IRS for trampling on our First Amendment rights. I am incredibly disappointed in Washington's party politics and I am determined to hold the IRS accountable for these unjust acts.
A copy of the blocked resolution can be found HERE.

Sen. Paul joins Fellow Conservative Leaders at Tea Party Press Conference
On Thursday, I joined my colleagues Sens. Mitch McConnell, Mike Lee, Ted Cruz and Rep. Michele Bachman to demand a full investigation on the IRS. We were joined by other Members of Congress as well as victims of the IRS's unlawful political targeting, many of whom shared their stories and called for an investigation and reprimand for these acts.

(Sens. Paul, Lee, Cruz, Rep. Bachman, and others at Tea Party Press Conference- 5/16/2013)

Sen. Paul Introduces Legislation to Prevent 'Milk Cliff'
I introduced a bill on Wednesday that would permanently suspend the application of agricultural price support authority to certain commodities, such as milk. In the absence of a Farm Bill, my legislation would prevent the federal milk program from reverting back to the Agricultural Act of 1949 statute, also known as the "milk cliff."
Click HERE to read the bill in its entirety.

Sens. Paul, Lee and Cruz Call for the Passage of a Budget Without the Use of Procedural Tricks to Raise Taxes or Increase Debt Limit
On Thursday, I joined Sens. Lee and Cruz and demanded that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to pass a budget without using any procedural tricks to raise taxes or increase the debt limit.
We have no objection to proceeding to conference if the leader is willing to agree not to use it as a back-door tool to raise taxes or the debt ceiling. We should not be complicit in digging this nation even further into debt on merely a 50-vote threshold.
After refusing to pass a budget for four years, Democrats have proven themselves willing to abuse the budget process, including sneaking in provisions to add new taxes or raise the debt ceiling. The American people deserve assurances from Senator Reid that he will not try to hijack this bill and add tax hikes and more debt at the eleventh hour. Sneaking in a debt limit increase would be particularly egregious because it is not a part of either the House- or Senate-passed budgets.
Click HERE to read our entire statement.

Sen. Paul Receives NAM Award for Manufacturing Legislative Excellence
I was honored to receive the NAM Award for Manufacturing Legislative Excellence, as this award is given to members of Congress who vote with the NAM position on identified key manufacturing votes 70 percent of the time or more.

(Sen. Paul being presented with the NAM Award- 5/16/2013)
Sen. Paul Meets with the Kentucky Association of Realtors
In the Capitol on Thursday, I had the honor to meet with over 45 members of the Kentucky Association of Realtors in Washington, D.C.

(Sen. Paul with members of the Kentucky Association of Realtors- 5/15/2013)

Sen. Paul Meets with Mayor Proffitt
On Tuesday, I met with Jeff Proffitt, Mayor of Tompkinsville, Ky., and his family in my office.

(Sen. Paul with Mayor Proffitt and his family- 5/14/2013)
Sens. Paul, McConnell and Rep. Whitfield Issue Letter to Department of Energy
Also this week, Sen. McConnell, Rep. Ed Whitfield and I issued a letter to the Department of Energy (DOE) concerning the reindustrialization of the Paducah site.
Last year we fought hard to save the federal government money and preserve 1,200 jobs at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant. Now it is time for DOE to come up with a long-term plan that will maximize job retention and growth for the foreseeable future. We refuse to stand idly by while DOE runs out the clock on potential private-sector job investment that would create jobs here in Paducah.
Our letter to the DOE can be viewed HERE.

Media Wrap-Up
This past week, I appeared on Fox's Hannity, America's Newsroom, and Fox & Friends, and CNN's The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer. And spoke with several radio stations across the country, as well as stations in Kentucky. I also penned an Op-Ed in the Washington Times, CNN, and Investor's Business Daily.